Cleveland Scholarship Program

All K–12 students who reside in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are eligible, and these students must accept this regional scholarship if eligible rather than Ohio’s statewide Educational Choice Scholarship. _(Last updated July 2, 2025)_

Students may use scholarships for tuition at participating public or private schools. Families of students in grades K–8 with incomes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($62,400 for a family of four in 2024–2025), the family will not have to pay tuition that is not covered by the scholarship. Parents/guardians are responsible for registration fees, materials fees, and other related expenses. The scholarship award can only be used towards school tuition. Depending on the amount of the school’s tuition, the scholarship will pay up to the designated amount. If the tuition is more than the scholarship amounts, the parent may be responsible for the difference. _(Last updated July 17, 2024)_

Scholarships under this program are capped at either the applicable tuition amount or a statutory maximum, whichever is less. For 2024–2025, the maximum scholarship is $6,166 for grades K–8 or $8,408 for grades 9–12. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce awards scholarships from appropriations that fund all school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and scholarships based on their respective formulas or caps. Schools must accept vouchers from K–8 recipients with a household income no greater than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level as full tuition payment. Parents whose household income is more than the 200% threshold or whose student is in high school may pay the remaining tuition or provide in-kind services for the remaining tuition. Any qualifying Cleveland K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding. _(Last updated July 17, 2024)_

On June 27, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court in _Zelman v. Simmons-Harris_ ruled that the Cleveland school voucher program does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; vouchers are constitutional when parents have independent, private choice of schools without favoring or disfavoring religion. By design, the voucher program is “school neutral.” The Ohio Supreme Court had previously struck down the Cleveland voucher program, _Simmons-Harris v. Goff_ , 711 N.E.2d 203 (Ohio 1999), ruling it was unconstitutional because the legislation adopting the voucher program violated the single subject rule. However, the Ohio court also held that the voucher program did not violate the state constitution’s compelled support or education clauses and did not violate the Federal constitution’s Establishment Clause. In _Zelman_ , the U.S. Supreme Court opined, “We believe that the program challenged here is a program of true private choice . . . and thus constitutional.” The Court held that the program is “entirely neutral with respect to religion,” that parents may “exercise genuine choice among options public and private, secular and religious,” and that this program of true private choice “does not offend the Establishment Clause.” _Zelman v. Simmons-Harris_ , 536 U.S. 639 (2002). _(Last updated December 18, 2023)_